{
  "data_version": "1",
  "schema": "https://whatledto.com/data",
  "id": "ubisoft",
  "name": "Ubisoft",
  "kind": "company",
  "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/ubisoft",
  "description": "Publisher whose server shutdowns put digital game ownership in front of a court.",
  "same_as": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubisoft",
    "https://www.ubisoft.com/"
  ],
  "timelines": [
    {
      "slug": "digital-game-ownership",
      "title": "Do You Own Your Games? The Crew, AB 2426 and the Buy-Button Lawsuits",
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership",
      "json": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership.json",
      "role": "Publisher that delisted, shut down, and reportedly removed account licences for The Crew; it is settling the related ownership claims.",
      "entries": 11,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-17T01:48:04.811832+00:00"
    }
  ],
  "entries": [
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 2199,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n2199",
      "date": "2026-10-16",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Players claimed $38,633 of The Crew settlement; the lawyers are asking for $800,000",
      "summary": "The motion for final approval filed in Sacramento Superior Court sets out what the settlement actually delivered. Of roughly 1.8 million class members, 2,951 filed claims — 704 taking the $7 cash option and 2,247 the $15 credit — for a total value of $38,633. Class counsel asks the court for $800,000 in fees and $17,733.48 in costs, against a lodestar of $315,295 for 462.2 hours, a multiplier of about 2.484; administration cost $120,673.31 and the three named plaintiffs want $5,000 each. Ubisoft pays those sums on top of the $2,000,000 made available to the class, so they do not reduce anyone’s recovery — but the filing also records that Ubisoft \"retains no reversionary interest\" in that $2,000,000, of which players claimed under two percent.",
      "type": "other",
      "entities": [
        "Ubisoft",
        "Bursor & Fisher"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "ubisoft",
        "bursor-fisher"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.crewgamesettlement.com/assets/uploads/20261016_final_fa_and_fees_mtn_1792183496.pdf",
          "outlet": "Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento",
          "published": "2026-10-16",
          "quote": "Measured against Class Counsel’s current lodestar of $315,295, the requested award of $800,000 reflects a multiplier of approximately 2.484."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1653,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1653",
      "date": "2026-07-13",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Deadline passes to opt out of or object to Ubisoft settlement",
      "summary": "The settlement website stated that class members had until July 13, 2026, to opt out of or object to the Ubisoft settlement. It instructed members seeking exclusion to mail or deliver their requests by that date.",
      "type": "legal",
      "entities": [
        "Matthew Cassell",
        "Alan Liu",
        "Angel Cerrato",
        "Ubisoft, Inc.",
        "The Crew"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "matthew-cassell",
        "alan-liu",
        "angel-cerrato",
        "ubisoft",
        "the-crew"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.crewgamesettlement.com/faq",
          "outlet": "Crew Game Settlement administrator",
          "published": null,
          "quote": "“You must mail or deliver your exclusion request postmarked no later than July 13, 2026, to:”"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.crewgamesettlement.com/",
          "outlet": "Crew Game Settlement administrator",
          "published": null,
          "quote": "“Class Members may still opt out of or object to the Settlement until July 13, 2026.”"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1024,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1024",
      "date": "2026-06-11",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Claims close in the The Crew settlement",
      "summary": "Class members had until 11 June 2026 to file a claim. Cassell, Liu and Cerrato had alleged that Ubisoft misled buyers into believing they were paying for ownership of The Crew when they were getting a limited licence; Judge Jill H. Talley of the Sacramento County Superior Court set the fairness hearing for 13 November 2026.",
      "type": "legal",
      "entities": [
        "Ubisoft"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "ubisoft"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.crewgamesettlement.com/assets/uploads/cassell_v_ubisoft_final_long_form_notice_260428_1777561056.pdf",
          "outlet": "Cassell v. Ubisoft settlement notice",
          "published": "2026-04-28",
          "quote": "Plaintiffs Matthew Cassell, Alan Liu, and Angel Cerrato allege that Ubisoft misled consumers into believing that when they purchased Ubisoft's video game The Crew, consumers were paying for ownership rights over The Crew when consumers were only receiving a limited license to access The Crew."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1043,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1043",
      "date": "2026-04",
      "date_precision": "month",
      "title": "Ubisoft settles the The Crew ownership case for $2 million",
      "summary": "The Sacramento County Superior Court preliminarily approved a settlement of the refiled Cassell action. The fund totals $2,000,000, and class members elect either $7 in cash or $15 in Ubisoft store credit.",
      "type": "legal",
      "entities": [
        "Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento",
        "Ubisoft",
        "Matthew Cassell",
        "Alan Liu",
        "Angel Cerrato",
        "The Crew"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "superior-court-of-california-county-of-sacramento",
        "ubisoft",
        "matthew-cassell",
        "alan-liu",
        "angel-cerrato",
        "the-crew"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.crewgamesettlement.com/",
          "outlet": "Crew Game Settlement administrator",
          "published": null,
          "quote": "The Court in charge of this action has preliminarily approved the Settlement as fair, reasonable, and adequate, and must decide whether to give final approval to the Settlement."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.crewgamesettlement.com/faq",
          "outlet": "Crew Game Settlement administrator",
          "published": "2026-04-28",
          "quote": "A Settlement Fund has been created, totaling $2,000,000."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1042,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1042",
      "date": "2026-03-31",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "UFC-Que Choisir sues Ubisoft in France over The Crew shutdown",
      "summary": "UFC-Que Choisir sued Ubisoft before the Tribunal Judiciaire de Créteil following closure of The Crew servers. Stop Killing Games supported the action.",
      "type": "legal",
      "entities": [
        "UFC-Que Choisir",
        "Ubisoft",
        "The Crew",
        "Stop Destroying Videogames",
        "Tribunal Judiciaire de Créteil"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "ufc-que-choisir",
        "ubisoft",
        "the-crew",
        "stop-destroying-videogames",
        "tribunal-judiciaire-de-cr-teil"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.quechoisir.org/action-ufc-que-choisir-jeux-video-l-ufc-que-choisir-assigne-ubisoft-en-justice-suite-a-la-fermeture-du-jeu-the-crew-n175318/",
          "outlet": "UFC-Que Choisir",
          "published": "2026-03-31",
          "quote": "L’UFC-Que Choisir poursuit en justice l’éditeur de jeux vidéo Ubisoft devant le Tribunal Judiciaire de Créteil, suite à la fermeture des serveurs de son jeu de course en ligne The Crew."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1038,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1038",
      "date": "2025-06-12",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Cassell plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss federal action",
      "summary": "Matthew Cassell, Angel Cerrato, and Alan Liu filed a notice voluntarily dismissing the federal action without prejudice. The notice was filed before a ruling on Ubisoft's amended-complaint dismissal motion.",
      "type": "legal",
      "entities": [
        "Matthew Cassell",
        "Alan Liu",
        "Angel Cerrato",
        "Ubisoft, Inc."
      ],
      "parties": [
        "matthew-cassell",
        "alan-liu",
        "angel-cerrato",
        "ubisoft"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.drdocket.com/case/cassell-v-ubisoft-entertainment-s-a-caed-2024",
          "outlet": "Dr. Docket/PACER docket record",
          "published": "2025-06-12",
          "quote": "NOTICE of VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL without prejudice by Matthew Cassell, Angel Cerrato, Alan Liu."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1035,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1035",
      "date": "2025-03-18",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Cassell plaintiffs file amended complaint against Ubisoft, Inc.",
      "summary": "Matthew Cassell, Alan Liu, and Angel Cerrato filed a first amended complaint. The amended complaint named Ubisoft, Inc. as defendant.",
      "type": "legal",
      "entities": [
        "Matthew Cassell",
        "Alan Liu",
        "Angel Cerrato",
        "Ubisoft, Inc."
      ],
      "parties": [
        "matthew-cassell",
        "alan-liu",
        "angel-cerrato",
        "ubisoft"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.drdocket.com/case/cassell-v-ubisoft-entertainment-s-a-caed-2024",
          "outlet": "Dr. Docket/PACER docket record",
          "published": "2025-03-18",
          "quote": "FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT against Ubisoft, Inc. by Matthew Cassell, Alan Liu, Angel Cerrato."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1033,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1033",
      "date": "2024-11-04",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Cassell and Liu file federal proposed class action against Ubisoft",
      "summary": "Matthew Cassell and Alan Liu filed Cassell v. Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. in the Eastern District of California, the first suit to test the ownership claim. It alleged Ubisoft had misled buyers of The Crew into thinking they were getting ownership rights when they received only a limited licence.",
      "type": "legal",
      "entities": [
        "Matthew Cassell",
        "Alan Liu",
        "Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.",
        "Ubisoft, Inc.",
        "The Crew"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "matthew-cassell",
        "alan-liu",
        "ubisoft-entertainment-sa",
        "ubisoft",
        "the-crew"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.drdocket.com/case/cassell-v-ubisoft-entertainment-s-a-caed-2024",
          "outlet": "Dr. Docket/PACER docket record",
          "published": "2024-11-04",
          "quote": "Date Filed Nov 4, 2024."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.crewgamesettlement.com/faq",
          "outlet": "Crew Game Settlement administrator",
          "published": null,
          "quote": "This lawsuit claims that Ubisoft violated California law by misleading consumers into believing that by purchasing a copy of the Ubisoft video game, The Crew, they were receiving ownership rights over The Crew, but instead only received a limited license."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1031,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1031",
      "date": "2024-04-12",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Players report Ubisoft revoked The Crew licences from accounts",
      "summary": "Users reported that Ubisoft revoked licences to access The Crew from Ubisoft Connect accounts. The report described the removal as occurring after the game became inoperable.",
      "type": "report",
      "entities": [
        "Ubisoft",
        "Ubisoft Connect",
        "The Crew"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "ubisoft",
        "ubisoft-connect",
        "the-crew"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-is-deleting-the-crew-from-players-libraries-reminding-us-we-own-nothing-165328083.html",
          "outlet": "Engadget",
          "published": "2024-04-12",
          "quote": "They say that the company actually reached into Ubisoft Connect accounts and revoked the license to access the game, according to reports by Game Rant and others."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1030,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1030",
      "date": "2024-04-01",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "The Crew becomes inoperable after Ubisoft's server shutdown",
      "summary": "The online-only game The Crew stopped operating on April 1. The game required Ubisoft servers to operate.",
      "type": "other",
      "entities": [
        "Ubisoft",
        "The Crew"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "ubisoft",
        "the-crew"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-is-deleting-the-crew-from-players-libraries-reminding-us-we-own-nothing-165328083.html",
          "outlet": "Engadget",
          "published": "2024-04-12",
          "quote": "Ubisoft's online-only racing game The Crew stopped being operable on April 1."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "digital-game-ownership",
      "id": 1015,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/digital-game-ownership#n1015",
      "date": "2023-12-14",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Ubisoft delists The Crew and sets a date to switch off its servers",
      "summary": "Ubisoft removed the 2014 open-world racing game from digital storefronts and said every server would go dark on 31 March 2024, blaming server infrastructure and licensing constraints. The game had no offline mode, so the shutdown would make it unplayable for everyone who had bought it.",
      "type": "announcement",
      "entities": [
        "Ubisoft"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "ubisoft"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-delists-the-crew-with-servers-shutting-next-year",
          "outlet": "Eurogamer",
          "published": "2023-12-14",
          "quote": "The game will remain playable until 31st March 2024, after which all servers will be shut down across all platforms: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Amazon Luna, and Ubisoft+. \"We understand this may be disappointing for players still enjoying the game, but it has become a necessity due to upcoming server infrastructure and licensing constraints,\" reads the update from Ubisoft."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/the-crew/the-crew-2/news-updates/3u0la29yUBGBzYlwKp5QMZ/an-update-on-the-crew",
          "outlet": "Ubisoft",
          "published": "2023-12-14",
          "quote": "Today, The Crew 1, including all its editions, and virtual currency packs, will be delisted from all online stores."
        }
      ]
    }
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